Researchers connected a postage-stamp-size artificial fingertip to electrodes surgically implanted to nerves in Sørensen's upper left arm above his stump.

Sensors in the artificial fingertip generated electrical signals that were translated into a series of electrical spikes, emulating human nerve signals.

Sorensen’s brain scans indicated that the sensations from the bionic fingertip accurately resemble the feeling of touch from real fingers.

“This achievement will allow the “symbiosis” between the user and interface to become more adaptive (to changing tasks and situations), more robust (beyond interfering stimuli), more effective (learn from the past to anticipate or predict the future), and more natural (rapidly becoming part of the body scheme).

Therefore, the restoration of sensory perception is the crucial step to achieve in the development of next generation of artificial limbs and hand prostheses…”

The researchers have already integrated the new fingertip into a prosthetic hand and plan for patients to use the device before the end of 2016.

In addition to creating prosthetics that can “feel,” the research team believes their technology will provide surgical, rescue and industrial robots the power of artificial touch.

A new material could revolutionize robotics and prosthetics.

In a separate study, a new material has been discovered that may yield soft, pliable, synthetic skin which can self-replicate.

The Graphene-based cellular elastomer, known as “G-elastomer,” is highly sensitive to pressure and vibrations and responds more naturally than polyurethane foam or rubber.

This graphene elastomer is a flexible, ultra-light material which can detect pressures and vibrations across a broad bandwidth of frequencies. It far exceeds the response range of our skin, and it also has a very fast response time…

Although we often take it for granted, the pressure sensors in our skin allow us to do things like hold a cup without dropping it, crushing it, or spilling the contents.

The sensitivity and response time of G-elastomer could allow a prosthetic hand or a robot to be even more dexterous than a human, while the flexibility could allow us to create next generation flexible electronic devices.

Synthetic skin and nerves which grow and communicate

A team of Northwestern University researchers has found a way to 3-D print structures with G-elastomer nanoflakes, opening up new opportunities for regenerative engineering and other electronic, or medical, applications.

Led by Ramille Shah, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at the McCormick School of Engineering and of surgery in the Feinberg School of Medicine, and her postdoctoral fellow Adam Jakus, the team developed a novel graphene-based ink that can be used to print large, robust 3-D structures.

The research team populated one of the structures with stem cells to surprising results. Not only did the cells survive; they divided, proliferated, and morphed into neuron-like cells.

The 3-D printed structure is also flexible and strong enough to be sutured directly to existing tissues, so it could be used for biodegradable sensors and medical implants.

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